“Remember, those hogs are not the kindest animals you’ll meet in the forest. They are wild and dangerous. If they spot any enemies or threats near them, they won’t hesitate to battle them with all their might.” His green eyes glistened under the moonlight. I nodded, keeping him aware that I was listening to his reminders.
“Also, I’ll let you take the first shot. This time, don’t hesitate. It will not kill the hog, but it will slow him down. Don’t think about it much; I’ll protect you over the course of this practice.” I let out a heavy exhale, but affirmed his words.
He released my hand and positioned his gun, holding it in combat mode. I did the same, handling the gun tight. We turned our flashlights on, which was attached to the harness he had me wear before we left the house.
As we searched for the hogs, I was focusing on two things. The hogs were the primary goal, but protecting myself and Hunter was of higher importance. I kept my senses sharp as we continued our hunt, trying to be the first to spot the enemy.
Just as I was to take another step in the expedition, I spotted one huge hog gazing at me. His eyes were reflecting his madness and need to run me down, eager to kill me before I could do it. My body froze, my fingers glued to the grip on my gun.
I remembered the man’s silhouette. The man who laid foot in my house without any permission. The trespasser who took advantage of my property, locking his target on me. I felt the same dangerous vibe from this hog. His eyes were telling me that I should retreat, that the man and this hog were stronger than me.
I could not force myself to pull the trigger. My head was all over the place, messed up with all the things that happened in the past few weeks. The days of threat were not over yet. They would not stop until they got me down on the floor, breathless.
Until I heard his voice.
“Come on, Kylie. You’ve got this.” Blood began to flow in my veins, forcing me back to my senses. I shot him a skeptical look, but he kept me focused on the hog.
“I’ll protect you no matter what. Just do it.” Hunter’s voice fueled the aggression inside of me. It infuriated my heart, recalling the trouble that the man had caused in my life. I needed to take all the threats and enemies down. They deserved to feel my wrath.
I raised the gun, pointing it at my target. It felt like my adrenaline had finally kicked in. With all the courage I could muster, I locked on my target and pulled the trigger.
The sound of the fire echoed in my ears, signifying the success of my first official shot. He managed to avert the direct shot, leaving him a minor injury in the shank area. For a moment, I thought my failed attempt had only worsened the scene now that hog was charging in our direction, maddened by the inflicted wound.
“Fuck,” Hunter grumbled. “Shoot it again. Now. Now!”
He handed me the shotgun, which I had no fucking clue how to use. I did what came naturally. I lifted the gun and forced myself into a calm. Another shot and the kickback almost knocked me on my ass.
“I’m sorry.” I reached out and touched his back.
“It’s okay, baby. No worries. I’m pretty sure you got it, but let’s double check.” He moved closer, and my stomach tightened.
I turned my attention on the hog. It was immobile, no signs of life seen from it. The red, abhorrent fluid trickled down the hole in his skull, drenching its face with its own blood. I walked forward to scrutinize the dead hog, searching for the bullet I bore in his torso.
“That was spectacular.” Hunter came out of the dark, his face lit up by the moonlight’s brightness. I caught the deep shot on the hog’s torso just where I envisioned it to be. It was a perfect shot.
I stared back at him, my heart still racing in excitement. It was the most unforgettable adventure I had ever experienced. An unbeatable hunt under the night sky with the strong, enigmatic, and attractive Hunter Yonnie.
“That was incredible.” I almost screamed out the extreme emotions I felt, but things seemed to change focus. I looked at his face. The face of the man who rescued me from my fucked up life.
The clouds unblocked the moon, giving us more light to see each other. My heart was racing with a million emotions. It was restless, but I didn’t care. I wanted something just like this. Especially with him.
He stepped closer to me, smiling beautifully as he met my eyes. Those green eyes were dazzling me, causing me to fall into a deep hypnosis under his spell. If he wished to catch me and entrap me, then he won. I surrender myself to him.
“You never fail to impress me.” He ran his fingers down my face. I blushed upon his touch, captivated by his charming ways. My heart began to race again. It was a different type of feeling. Something I had been thinking about for a long time, but now I knew the answer.
Everything before me was reduced to a blur. All that I could ever picture was Hunter’s beautiful eyes, his expression burying meaning down into my soul.
“No, it’s the other way around,” I whispered roughly, losing my breath as he stroked my cheek. He smiled the sweetest smile I had ever seen in my entire life.
He had no clue how much I loved him, and I was too fucking scared to tell him.
Chapter Twenty-One
One Week Later
Hunter
“Man, this carbonara you brought sure is the best I’ve tasted!” Garren took another mouthful of the pasta Kylie packed before I left for work that morning. She had been cooking delicious meals for us, even packing mine and Vince’s lunch, which was going over the top, but fuck if I didn’t love her for it.